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Lifestyle Medicine

St. Luke's recognizes that good health can be more than fixing problems after they appear. Quality of health often begins with the choices we make every day for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Those choices are at the center of lifestyle medicine, an emerging specialty focused on preventing, treating, managing or even reversing many of the most common chronic diseases in today's world.

The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80% of non-communicable conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke are preventable when we make better choices in these key areas:

Increasing consumption of whole, plant-based foods

Increasing aerobic activity

Getting enough sleep

Decreasing use of tobacco, alcohol, and other unhealthy substances

Maintaining healthy relationships

Managing stress

At St. Luke's, we'll work with you to achieve optimal health through lifestyle changes that are right for you. We not only provide information and tools you need, we also help you build a system of support and resources to achieve and maintain your best health.

Providers

Biography

Charmin Aschenbrener, RD earned her bachelor's degree from Oregon State University and completed her dietetic internship at Idaho State University. She is a facilitator for both the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), a lifestyle improvement course; and Cooking Matters, classes on healthy eating and cooking.

Availability

Accepting new patients

St. Luke's Health Partner

St. Luke's Health Partner

These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

Biography

Amanda (Mandy) Helsley, LCSW offers supportive counseling to assist with psychological needs related to financial needs and creating a stable environment. In addition, she can assist patients in building coping skills to help lower stress and improve day-to-day life.

Mandy earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Boise State University with a certification in dispute resolution. She earned a master's degree in social work from Northwest Nazarene University, specializing in clinical practice and administration.

Availability

Accepting new patients

St. Luke's Health Partner

St. Luke's Health Partner

These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.

Specialties, Conditions & Treatments

Biography

Jennifer Shalz, MD is medical director of St. Luke’s Heart Health and Rehabilitation as well as the Care Transitions program, which helps patients with congestive heart failure be successful at managing their health at home. She is also medical director of St. Luke’s outpatient tobacco treatment clinics. Her interests are in behavior change, primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease, and a holistic approach to maximizing quality and quantity of life.

Dr. Shalz earned her medical degree from Tufts University Medical School on an Air Force health professions scholarship. She served in the military, completing her internal medicine residency at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in California. She practiced at multiple VA institutions, then transitioned to supportive oncology before bringing her chronic disease management and palliative care skills to her current positions at St. Luke’s. She serves on a national expert committee for the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and is a member of St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular Board.

Availability

Accepting new patients

St. Luke's Health Partner

St. Luke's Health Partner

These providers work together to achieve patient-centered care, using proven best practices to offer better care to you and your family.